Alumnus/educator death: David Etzwiler
David John Etzwiler, 75, of Baraboo, died at home surrounded by his family after a short but losing battle with cancer.
David was born on Jan. 15, 1941, in Mansfield, Ohio, the youngest of three sons of Claude and Germaine Etzwiler. He graduated from St. Peter’s School in Mansfield and went on to St. Joseph’s College, Rensselaer, Indiana, for a BS in math. He spent a year as a Fulbright scholar in Tuebingen, Germany, then returned to the states to study at UW-Madison for an MS in math. There he met Nijole Semenas, for whom he was the love of her life. They married on Dec. 26, 1964, and together went into the Peace Corps in Brazil. On returning home, they settled in Wisconsin and raised three boys. He taught in Hamburg, Germany, for two years and took every opportunity to introduce the art and culture of Europe to his family. David began working at UWC-Baraboo/Sauk County in 1977, and retired from there in 2003, but continued as a volunteer tutor and teacher for many years.
He was a member of the Sauk County Historical Society, the Al Ringling Friends, AMATYC (American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges), and Madison Vilnius Sister Cities, and active in the Baraboo Community Scholarship Corporation, Zaibas Lithuanian Dancers, and the St. Joseph Church Choir. David was an adventurous traveler, loved cruises, train rides, and biking in Germany as well as Sauk County.
David was preceded in death by his parents and parents-in-law. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Nijole Etzwiler; sons, Chris (Angie) Etzwiler of Des Plaines, Illinois, Peter (Elise) Etzweiler, and Michael Etzwiler (Ken Kealiher) of Baraboo; beloved grandchildren, Andrew and Zoe Etzweiler and Eric and Valerie Etzwiler; brothers, Tom (Ruth) Etzwiler and James P. Martin; and other relatives and friends.
A Funeral Mass was held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Baraboo, with Fr. Jay Poster officiating. Visitation was from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, at the Rago-Baldwin Funeral Home and from 10 a.m. until time of Mass on Wednesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the UWC-Baraboo/Sauk County, http://baraboo.uwc.edu/support/support-uw-bsc or the Baraboo Community Scholarship Corporation, http://barabooscholarships.com/
The Rago-Baldwin Funeral Home is assisting the family.
The family thanks St. Clare Hospital for its loving care of David, and Home Health United Hospice Care for its support.
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